I practise the shito version and I must say I agree about the ugly part, that said I also dislike Jiin and Jion. The bunkai that we practice is fairly basic for all these kata, so I wouldn't say useless but hardly interesting or stimulating.

On the beauty of Jitte, form follows function. To me, if something has utility, then it is a thing of beauty. If it doesn't, who cares.

Regarding utility, I believe you may only be half correct in stating it is virtually useless. In one sense it is useless because the likelihood of someone attacking you with a bo is pretty remote. But in Okinawa, 150 years ago, people carried staffs around often. They were used to carry buckets, bundels and baskets. The staff was carried horizontal across one's neck and shoulders with the buckets hanging at each end. If you had lived in that time and place, you might have have found Jitte to be very useful. My perception is that it has some of the most effective empty hand bo defense found in kata.

I can begin any sequence and use the movements, as they appear in the kata, for effective defense, many stripping the bo from both hands of the attacker. What is really interesting is that virtually each sequence, with minor adjustments, works effectively against symmetrical attacks. (Right overhead, left overhead, or right thrust, left thrust, e.g.)

This is with the Shotokan version, which I would imagine is the original. Regarding the Shito Ryu version, there are many differences and I have not been able to apply these movements effectively against the bo.

Against the bo you need big movements and stride to cover the distance, since the attacker with the bo is further away. There are two sequences of kiba dachis that cover a lot of ground. Just what is needed to evade, close the big distance, and in some cases pass the opponent to strip the bo from the back hand, once you have stripped it from the front.

I enjoy practicing and teaching empty hand bo defense. It is a bridge between bo-oriented kobudo, which is also pretty useless on the street, and empty hand karate.

If it surprises you that all of Jitte can be used against bo attacks, then you might be surprised that many kata have movements that can be used against the bo. For example, the sequence of knife hands/spear hand found in the beginning of Heian Nidan/Pinan Shodan. Although this sequence has many applications in pure empty hand, it also works effectively against a thrust of the bo (left foot forward). You can strip the bo from both hands with this sequence.

This Heian Nidan application is one situation where the longer back stances found in Shotokan can be more useful as compared with the shorter cat stances found in most Shorin Ryu versions of the kata. The longer stances add the distance you need, especially if someone is fully utilizing the length of the bo for the thrust.

Interesting thread...is it possible to move it to Weapons? I recently read an article on the history of the jitte (Classical Arts? EJMAS?)...an interest associated with Sai. Can anyone point me to other materials regarding the history of the weapon? (Other than internet, of course.)

Before the Shotoplanet web site was taken down, there was a statement attributed to Nakayama that said the kata was primarily for bo defense. There are a bunch of web sites that say the same thing but don't attribute the information to anyone.

Quote: Before the Shotoplanet web site was taken down, there was a statement attributed to Nakayama that said the kata was primarily for bo defense. There are a bunch of web sites that say the same thing but don't attribute the information to anyone.

Who thinks this is applicable? I certainly don't. There is one sequence where this looks obvious. I've seen Nakayama's "Best Karate" bunkai and I am suitably unimpressed.

How do they practice it with a Bo?

The jump in Heian Godan is an over the shoulder throw, where the opponents arms are locked out, as I see it.

As for "Jitte", I have seen sources which this AND Jiin were Sai kata once. This is unsubstantiated however...